Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Introduction to a New Ageing Population

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Leisure in Later Life

Part of the book series: Leisure Studies in a Global Era ((LSGE))

  • 251 Accesses

Abstract

The introduction explores a new population of people in later life. They do not really plan for their later life but anticipate participating in generally ‘active’ leisure. However, what they mainly do is engage in passive pastimes. Despite this inactivity they are enjoying continued good health and high levels of life satisfaction. There are two paradoxes in later life leisure studies. The big one is that these ‘old people’ that ‘need help’ to be ‘more active’, report feeling happier than the majority of younger people in many countries. The second one is that despite more and more research evidence about ‘what is good for them’, active leisure; people do more and more of what is ‘bad for them’, passive leisure, and yet they are living longer and healthier lives than ever. There is a knowledge gap in research and theory for more leisurely pastimes in later life.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 119.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 159.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 159.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Adams, K. B., Leibbrandt, S., & Moon, H. (2011). A critical review of the literature on social and leisure activity and wellbeing in later life. Ageing & Society, 31(04), 683–712.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Age UK. (2014). Later life in the United Kingdom. Retrieved from http://www.ageuk.org.uk/Documents/EN-GB/Factsheets/Later_Life_UK_factsheet.pdf?dtrk=true.

  • Alderwick, H., & Dixon, J. (2019). The NHS long term plan. BMJ (Online), 364.

    Google Scholar 

  • Alzheimer’s Society. (2019). Facts for the media. Retrieved February 3, 2019, from https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/about-us/news-and-media/facts-media?documentID=535&pageNumber=2.

  • Blackshaw, T. (2010). Leisure. Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Boudiny, K. (2013). “Active ageing”: From empty rhetoric to effective policy tool. Ageing & Society, 33(6), 1077–1098.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Broughton, K. A., Payne, L., & Liechty, T. (2017). An exploration of older men’s social lives and well-being in the context of a coffee group. Leisure Sciences, 39(3), 261–276.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brownsell, S., Blackburn, S., & Hawley, M. S. (2008). Evaluating the impact of 2nd and 3rd generation telecare services in older people’s housing. Journal of Telemedicine and Telecare, 14, 8–12.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cain, L. (1964). Life course and social structure. In R. E. L. Faris (Ed.), Handbook of modern sociology (pp. 272–309). Chicago: Rand McNally.

    Google Scholar 

  • Carroll, L. (1865). Alices adventures in wonderland. London: Macmillan.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chatzitheochari, S., & Arber, S. (2011). Identifying the third agers: An analysis of British retirees ’ leisure pursuits. Sociological Research Online, 16(4), 1–12. Retrieved from http://www.socresonline.org.uk/16/4/3.html.

  • Choi, W., Liechty, T., Naar, J. J., West, S., Wong, J. D., & Son, J. (2018). “We’re a family and that gives me joy”: Exploring interpersonal relationships in older women’s softball using socio-emotional selectivity theory. Leisure Sciences, 0(0), 1–18.

    Google Scholar 

  • Clarke, A., & Warren, L. (2007). Hopes, fears and expectations about the future: What do older people’s stories tell us about active ageing? Ageing and Society, 27(04), 465–488.

    Google Scholar 

  • Clegg, A., Young, J., Iliffe, S., Olde Rikkert, M. G. M., & Rockwood, K. (2013). Frailty in older people summary. Lancet, 381(9868), 752–762. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(12)62167-9.Frailty.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cooney, R. (2017). Government begins consultation on volunteering and young people | Third Sector. Retrieved February 3, 2019, from https://www.thirdsector.co.uk/government-begins-consultation-volunteering-young-people/volunteering/article/1443960.

  • Cooney, T. M., & Curl, A. L. (2019). Transitioning from successful aging: A life course approach. Journal of Aging and Health, 31(3), 528–551.

    Google Scholar 

  • Crouch, D. (2016). Flirting with Space: Journeys and creativity. London: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dannefer, D., Kelley-Moore, J., & Huang, W. (2016). Handbook of the life course‎. In M. J. Shanahan & E. Al. (Eds.) (paperback, p. 23). Springer International Publishing.

    Google Scholar 

  • Department Culture Media and Sport. (2014). Taking Part 2014 / 15 Quarter 2 (December).

    Google Scholar 

  • Department for Business Energy and Industrial Strategy. (2019). The grand challenge missions—GOV.UK. Retrieved February 3, 2019, from https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/industrial-strategy-the-grand-challenges/missions#healthy-lives.

  • Department for Work and Pensions. (2012). Preparing for an ageing society: Evaluating the ageing well programme parts 1 and 2. London: DWP.

    Google Scholar 

  • Department of Health and Social Care. (2018). Prevention is better than cure: our vision to help you live well for longer—GOV.UK. Retrieved February 3, 2019 from https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/prevention-is-better-than-cure-our-vision-to-help-you-live-well-for-longer.

  • Dressler, W. W. (2012). Cultural consonance: Linking culture, the individual and health. Preventive Medicine, 55(5), 390–393.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Elder, G. H. (1999). Children of the great depression: Social change in life experience. Boulder: Westview Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fallahpour, M., Borell, L., Luborsky, M., & Nygård, L. (2016). Leisure-activity participation to prevent later-life cognitive decline: A systematic review. Scandinavian Journal of Occupational Therapy, 23(3), 162–197.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ferraro, K. F. (2016). Life course lens on aging and health. In Handbook of the life course (pp. 389–406). Springer International Publishing.

    Google Scholar 

  • Foverskov, E., Mortensen, E. L., Holm, A., Pedersen, J. L. M., Osler, M., & Lund, R. (2019). Socioeconomic position across the life course and cognitive ability later in life: The importance of considering early cognitive ability. Journal of Aging and Health, 31(6), 947–966.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fox, E., Hitchings, R., Day, R., & Venn, S. (2017). Demanding distances in later life leisure travel. Geoforum, 82(March), 102–111.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gabriel, Z., & Bowling, A. (2004). Quality of life from the perspectives of older people. Ageing & Society, 24(5), 675–691.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gard, M., Dionigi, R. A., Horton, S., Baker, J., Weir, P., & Dionigi, C. (2017). The normalization of sport for older people? Annals of Leisure Research, 20(3), 253–272.

    Google Scholar 

  • Genoe, R., Kulczycki, C., Marston, H., Freeman, S., Musselwhite, C., & Rutherford, H. (2018). E-Leisure and older adults: Findings from an international exploratory study. Therapeutic Recreation Journal, 52(1), 1–18.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gibson, H., Ashton-Shaeffer, C., Green, J., & Autry, C. (2003). Leisure in the lives of retirement-aged women: Conversations about leisure and life. Leisure/Loisir, 28(3–4), 203–230.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gilleard, C., Higgs, P., Hyde, M., Wiggins, R., & Blane, D. (2005). Class, cohort, and consumption: The British experience of the third age. The Journals of Gerontology. Series B, Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, 60(6), S305–S310. Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16260712.

  • Glyptis, S. (1989). Leisure and unemployment. Open University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Godbey, G., Crawford, D., & Shen, X. S. (2010). Assessing heirachical leisure constraints theory after two decades. Journal of Leisure Research, 42(1), 111–134.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hamer, M., Kivimaki, M., & Steptoe, A. (2012). Longitudinal patterns in physical activity and sedentary behaviour from mid-life to early old age: A substudy of the Whitehall II cohort. Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, 66(12), 1110–1115.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Havighurst, R. J. (1961). Successful aging. The Gerontologist, 1(1), 8–13.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hayward, M. D., & Gorman, B. K. (2004). The long arm of childhood: The influence of early-life social conditions on men’s mortality. Source: Demography, 41(1), 87–107.

    Google Scholar 

  • Henretta, J. C., & McCrory, C. (2016). Childhood circumstances and mid-life functional mobility. Journal of Aging Health, 28(3), 440–459.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hickman, M., Stokes, P., Gammon, S., Beard, C., & Inkster, A. (2018). Moments like diamonds in space: Savoring the ageing process through positive engagement with adventure sports. Annals of Leisure Research, 21(5), 612–630.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Higgs, P., Leontowitsch, M., Stevenson, F., & Jones, I. R. (2009). Not just old and sick—The ‘will to health’ in later life. Ageing & Society, 29(05), 687.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hillsdon, M., Lawlor, D. A., Ebrahim, S., & Morris, J. N. (2008). Physical activity in older women: Associations with area deprivation and with socioeconomic position over the life course: Observations in the British Women’s Heart and Health Study. Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, 62(4), 344–350.

    Google Scholar 

  • Horwitz, W. (2014). Looking forward to later life. London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Humberstone, B. (2010). Third age and leisure research : Principles and practice (B. Humberstone, Ed.). Leisure Studies Association.

    Google Scholar 

  • Humberstone, B. (2019). Embodied life-long learning in nature, narratives and older bodies -‘quit or crash’. Journal of Adventure Education and Outdoor Learning, 19(2), 101–110.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Humphrey, A., Lee, L., & Green, R. (2011). Aspirations for later life: A report of research carried out by the National Centre for Social Research on behalf of the Department for Work and Pensions (Research Report No. 737). (Research Report No 737), (737). Retrieved from http://dera.ioe.ac.uk/3563/1/rrep737.pdf.

  • Jaumot-Pascual, N., Monteagudo, M. J., Kleiber, D. A., & Cuenca, J. (2015). Gender differences in meaningful leisure following major later life events. Journal of Leisure Research, 8(1), 83–103.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jolanki, O. (2004). Moral argumentation in talk about health and old age. Health: An Interdisciplinary Journal for the Social Study of Health, Illness and Medicine, 8(4), 483–503.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jolanki, O. (2008). Discussing responsibility and ways of influencing health. International Journal of Ageing and Later Life Introduction, 3(1), 45–76.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Joloza, T. (2013). Measuring national well-being : Older people’ s leisure time and volunteering.

    Google Scholar 

  • Joseph, D., & Southcott, J. (2019). Meanings of leisure for older people: An Australian study of line dancing. Leisure Studies, 38(1), 74–87.

    Google Scholar 

  • Katz, S. (2000). Busy bodies: Activity, aging, and the management of everyday life. Journal of Aging Studies, 14(2), 135–152.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Katz, S. (2013). Active and successful aging: Lifestyle as a gerontological idea. Recherches Sociologiques et Anthropologiques [En Ligne], 44(1), retrieved online 7/2/14 URL  http://rsa.revues.or.

  • Katz, S. (2018). Livable longevity: Remaking survivorship in old age. In XIX ISA World Congress of Sociology (p. Paper presentation 21st July 2018). Retrieved from https://isaconf.confex.com/isaconf/wc2018/webprogram/Paper90209.html.

  • Kemp, B. R., Ferraro, K. F., Morton, P. M., & Mustillo, S. A. (2018). Early origins of adult cancer risk among men and women: Influence of childhood misfortune?. Journal of Aging and Health, 30(1), 140–163.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kusumastuti, S., Derks, M. G. M., Tellier, S., Di Nucci, E., Lund, R., Mortensen, E. L., et al. (2016). Successful ageing: A study of the literature using citation network analysis. Maturitas, 93, 4–12.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Laslett, P. (1989). A fresh map of life. Macmillan Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lassen, A. J. (2014). Active ageing and the unmaking of old age. University of Copenhagen.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lee, C., Payne, L. L., & Berdychevsky, L. (2020). The roles of leisure attitudes and self-efficacy on attitudes toward retirement among retirees: A sense of coherence theory approach. Leisure Sciences, 42(2), 152–169.

    Google Scholar 

  • Leontowitsch, M. (2012). Researching later life and ageing: Expanding qualitative research horizons. Palgrave Macmillan.

    Google Scholar 

  • Liechty, T., Genoe, M. R., & Marston, H. R. (2017). Physically active leisure and the transition to retirement: The value of context. Annals of Leisure Research, 20(1), 23–38.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lindsey, R., Bulloch, S., & Metcalfe, L. (2016). Volunteering 1981–2012. Retrieved from https://longitudinalvolunteering.wordpress.com/.

  • Mair, H. (2009). Club life: Third place and shared leisure in rural Canada. Leisure Sciences, 31(5), 450–465.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Manley, I. (2003). The UK/U3A approach to life long learning. Retrieved from http://www.worldu3a.org/resources/UKlearning.pdf.

  • Martin, W. (2011). Visualizing risk: Health, gender and the ageing body. Critical Social Policy, 32(1), 51–68.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mejía, S. T., Ryan, L. H., Gonzalez, R., & Smith, J. (2017). Successful aging as the intersection of individual resources, age, environment, and experiences of well-being in daily activities. Journals of Gerontology—Series B Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, 72(2), 279–289.

    Google Scholar 

  • Menec, V. H. (2003). The relation between everyday activities and successful aging: A 6-year longitudinal study. Social Sciences, 58(2), 74–82.

    Google Scholar 

  • Murtagh, E., Murphy, M., Murphy, N., Woods, C., & Lane, A. (2014). Stay Active—The physical activity, ageing and health study. Retrieved from www.CARDI.ie.

  • National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence. (2015). Older people with social care needs and multiple long-term conditions (NG22). London: NICE.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nimrod, G., & Shrira, A. (2016). The paradox of leisure in later life. The Journals of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, 71(1), 106–111.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Office for National Statistics. (2013). Statistical Bulletin national population projections, 2012-based statistical Bulletin (November), 1–19.

    Google Scholar 

  • Office for National Statistics. (2014a). Healthy life expectancy at birth and at age 65: Clinical commissioning groups (2010–12). Retrieved from http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/census/2011-census-analysis/healthy-life-expectancy-at-birth-and-at-age-65–clinical-commissioning-groups–ccgs–2010-12/rpt-hle.html.

  • Office for National Statistics. (2014b). Statistical Bulletin excess winter mortality in England and Wales, 2012/13 (Provisional), 13, 1–23.

    Google Scholar 

  • Office for National Statistics. (2015a). Statistical Bulletin national life tables, United Kingdom 2012–2014. Retrieved from http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/dcp171778_416983.pdf.

  • Office for National Statistics. (2015b). Statistical Bulletin national population projections, 2012-based statistical Bulletin. Retrieved from http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/dcp171778_420462.pdf.

  • Office for National Statistics. (2018). National life tables, UK: 2015 to 2017. Statistical bulletin. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chroma.2004.09.049.

  • Pavela, G., & Latham, K. (2016). Childhood conditions and multimorbidity among older adults. Journals of Gerontology—Series B Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, 71(5), 889–901.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Phoenix, C., & Bell, S. L. (2019). Beyond “move more”: Feeling the rhythms of physical activity in mid and later-life. Social Science & Medicine, 231, 47–54.

    Google Scholar 

  • Richards, N., Warren, L., & Gott, M. (2012). The challenge of creating ‘alternative’ images of ageing: Lessons from a project with older women. Journal of Aging Studies, 26(1), 65–78.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Roberts, K. (2013). Leisure and the life course. In T. Blackshaw (Ed.), Routledge handbook of leisure studies (pp. 257–265). Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rojek, C. (2010). The labour of leisure. In The labour of leisure. Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ronksley, P. E., Brien, S. E., Turner, B. J., Mukamal, K. J., & Ghali, W. A. (2011). Association of alcohol consumption with selected cardiovascular disease outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Bmj, 342(feb22 1), d671–d671.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ryu, J., & Heo, J. (2016). Relaxation and watching televised sports among older adults. Educational Gerontology, 42(2), 71–78.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Seddon, C. (2011). Lifestyles and social participation. Social Trends, 41(1), 3.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sherrington, C., Fairhall, N., Wallbank, G., Tiedemann, A., Michaleff, Z., Howard, K., … Sherrington. (2019). Interventions for preventing falls in older people living in the community. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (Vol. 9).

    Google Scholar 

  • Siegler, V., Njeru, R., & Thomas, J. (2015, July). Inequalities in social capital by age and sex (July), 1–25. Retrieved from http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/dcp171766_410190.pdf.

  • Sport England. (2016). Tackling inactivity-active ageing prospectus. Retrieved from https://www.sportengland.org/media/11410/active-ageing-prospectus.pdf.

  • Spracklen, K. (2011). Constructing leisure: Historical and philosophical debates. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Stebbins, R. A. (2013). Planning your time in retirement: How to cultivate a leisure lifestyle to suit your needs and interests. Rowman & Littlefield.

    Google Scholar 

  • Steptoe, A., Breeze, E., Banks, J., & Nazroo, J. (2013). Cohort profile: The English longitudinal study of ageing. International Journal of Epidemiology, 42(6), 1640–1648.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Steptoe, A., & Wardle, J. (2012). Enjoying life and living longer. Archives of International Medicine., 172(3), 273–275.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tampubolon, G. (2015). Growing up in poverty, growing old in infirmity: The long arm of childhood conditions in Great Britain. PLoS ONE, 10(12), 1–16.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thomas, J. (2015). Insights into loneliness, older people and wellbeing. Retrieved from http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/dcp171766_418058.pdf.

  • Toepoel, V. (2011). Cultural participation of older adults: Investigating the contribution of lowbrow and highbrow activities to social integration and satisfaction with life. International Journal Disability and Human Development, 10(2), 123–129.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • United Nations. (2011). Follow-up to the Second World Assembly on Ageing: Report of the Secretary-General. General Assembly Resolution A/66/173 (Vol. 42883). Retrieved from http://www.ohchr.org/Documents/Issues/SForum/SForum2014/A.66.173_en.pdf.

  • United Nations Economic Commission for Europe. (2012). Active ageing. UNECE Policy Brief on Ageing (Vol. 13). Retrieved from http://ci.nii.ac.jp/naid/80016084632/.

  • Veblen, T. (2007). Theory of the leisure class. Transaction Publishers.

    Google Scholar 

  • Warren, J. R. (2016). Does growing childhood socioeconomic inequality mean future inequality in adult health? The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, 663(1), 292–330.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wheaton, B. (2017). Surfing through the life-course: Silver surfers’ negotiation of ageing. Annals of Leisure Research, 20(1), 96–116.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Whitley, E., Benzeval, M., & Popham, F. (2018). Associations of successful aging with socioeconomic position across the life-course: The West of Scotland twenty-07 prospective cohort study. Journal of Aging and Health, 30(1), 52–74.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • World Health Organization. (2002). Active Ageing, a policy framework (No. WHO/NMH/NPH/02.8). Geneva.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wu, Y.-T., Fratiglioni, L., Matthews, F. E., Lobo, A., Breteler, M. M., Skoog, I., et al. (2016). Dementia occurrence in Europe: Epidemiological evidence and implications for current policy making Yu-Tzu. The Lancet Neurology, 15(1), 116–124.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yeomans, H., & Critcher, C. (2013). The demon drink. In T. Blackshaw (Ed.), Routledge handbook of leisure studies (pp. 305–315). London: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Robert Dodd Building, School of Health Sciences, Eastbourne, UK

    Tania Wiseman

Authors
  1. Tania Wiseman
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Tania Wiseman .

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2021 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Wiseman, T. (2021). Introduction to a New Ageing Population. In: Leisure in Later Life . Leisure Studies in a Global Era. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-71672-1_1

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-71672-1_1

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-71671-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-71672-1

  • eBook Packages: Social SciencesSocial Sciences (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation